Niamh Emerson

Niamh Emerson.

The 16-year-old heptathlete, from Shirland, is a student at Belper School and a member of Amber Valley and Erewash Athletics Club. She won silver in the England Athletics U18 Heptathlon Championships and bronze in the England Athletics Senior championships.

"I train at the Derbyshire Institute of Sport DIS) gym at the University of Derby twice a week in the winter months with a tailored programme.

"I train at Amber Valley and Erewash AC's club track in Ilkeston once a week for speed endurance, along with hill sessions at Shipley Park and further technical sessions at Loughborough University High Performance Centre.

"My main aims for 2016 are to win the indoor Under-20 pentathlon at the English Institute of Sport (EIS) in Sheffield, which would automatically qualify me (top four) for the annual Great Britain vs France vs Spain combined events international in Valencia in February.

"I hope to compete in the Indoor Senior British Championships also at the EIS in high jump for experience. In July, I hope to be selected for Great Britain in Heptathlon at the European Youth Games in Georgia.

My short-term ambitions are to represent Great Britain in the World Junior Games in 2018 and also the Commonwealth Games in Australia.

"Ultimately it is to study for a degree and become a full-time funded athlete and compete internationally for my country with the dream of competing in the World Championships and Olympic Games."

Sign Up to Our Newsletter

Stay on top of everything going on at Derbyshire Sport by signing up to our monthly newsletter.